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Since the number of amino groups which are exposed by deacetylation of acetyl-D-glucosamine influences antimicrobial activity, a chitosan oligosaccharide (COS) derivative by N-conjugation of COS with asparagine, an amino acid with two amino groups, was synthesized and the antimicrobial effect on E. coli growth was compared with other COS derivatives which were N-conjugated with glycine, alanine, aspartic acid, cysteine, and methionine, and unmodified COS. The structure of asparagine N-conjugated COS (Asn-COS) derivative was identified by using a FT-IR, ^13C FT-NMR, and an elemental analyzer. The antimicrobial activity of Asn-COS against E. coli growth was significantly improved as compared to the other COS derivatives as well as COS itself. This means that Asn-COS with two positive charges strongly interacts with the carboxyl negative charges on the bacteria cell wall. The results for Asn-COS were as follows: 100% bactericidal activity, 0.002% MIC, and no growth of E. coli during 3 days of culture time, suggesting that Asn-COS may be useful as a new antibiotic agent.
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